During the coming weeks and months, the Southwestern Commission will be working to ensure that our communities have access to the most up-to-date information on the response to COVID-19 from the local, state, and federal government, non-profits, and foundations. This will be a difficult time for everyone, and our communities will suffer from the negative social and economic impact. Our organization is poised to assist in recovery efforts.

Below you will find a comprehensive list of resources pertaining to the COVID-19 response. This guide will be updated regularly-- please check our website and Facebook page for updates.

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

What Resources and Funding Opportunities are Available for Businesses?

INFORMATION

Multiple resources are up and running for businesses as they navigate the challenges brought on by the coronavirus crisis.

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) has released a
COVID-19 Business Impact Survey, which will be very important as we begin to tell the collective story of the COVID-19 virus impact on our business community locally. In addition, EDPNC has created a resource page (
EDPNC North Carolina Business Relief Resources- COVID-19) that covers topics such as supply chain disruptions, manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment, unemployment insurance claims, grant and loan programs, and many others.

Many other resources are available for businesses during this time, and if you are unable to find what you are looking for, please do not hesitate to reach out to us, your county Economic Development Director.

All congregate/Nutrition centers across the region are closed until April 30. Drive- thru options as well as home delivered options vary depending on the county. Please call your local senior center for details. Senior center staff continue to make well check calls to older adults on a regular basis.

If you are in need of assistance, please call your local senior center for information or the Area Agency on Aging at (828)586-1962 x220.

Cherokee County - (828) 837-2467

Clay County - (828) 389-9271

Graham County - (828) 479-7977

Haywood County - (828) 356-2800

Jackson - (828) 586-5494

Macon - (828) 349-2058

Swain - (828) 488-3047

EBCI - (828) 497-4471

Mountain Projects - (828) 452-1447 or (828) 356 2800

In addition, a new website,
coronacommunity.org, was launched with the intention of helping people in need of assistance (such as people who are elderly, immunocompromised, or at high risk of COVID-19) request grocery pickup, food delivery, wellness checkups, prescription pickups, or other services.

Dogwood Health Trust (DHT) has created a new data and scenario planning site for addressing COVID-19 in Western North Carolina. DHT created this site in order to prepare a regional resource that can help Western North Carolinians in their decision-making.

DHT has also announced its plan for a $10 Million Coronavirus response. The three broad strategies to its coronavirus response: slow transmission, prepare for crisis, and mitigate the social ramifications of this truly novel virus.

UNC School of Government offers blog posts, webinars, and other resources and information for North Carolina public officials across a variety of subject areas about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Development Finance Initiative (DFI), a program of the UNC School of Government, is available to assist local governments who are considering or in the process of creating their own small business emergency loan programs to provide bridge loans to local businesses impacted by COVID-19.

At 2:00 pm on April 8th, North Carolina Emergency Management will hold a call for the western region to explain the process for applying for FEMA reimbursement for costs associated with COVID-19.
REGISTER HERE.

Costs retroactive to January 20, 2020, are eligible and the period has no end point at this time. Eligible applicants are encouraged to begin the process now. To find out if your organization is eligible, email
pahotline@ncem.org. The steps for applying can be found
HERE. The threshold for applying is $3,300 and costs can include, but are not limited to training, disinfecting materials, staff over-time, use of equipment you already own, and medical costs.

CARES Act Summaries and Analysis

If you are looking for additional information or a synopsis of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, you might find the resources below helpful:

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury have begun releasing the information that will guide the programs created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. For information specifically related to small business owners, view the
Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act